The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-02
The GREAT CONSPIRACY
AT THE NORTHWEST DURING
THE CIVIL WAR
And What the Late Jacob Thompson,
Confederate Commissioner, Ex-
pected TO Reap From 1t. a

policy ard thus failing 10 create dis.
sennion and disunion in the North
west. Among the Northern mon who
went to ToroLto to confer with Thomp-
FOO was Judge jeremiah &. Black.
Judge Black was announced to find
sone plan that would lead to peace,
but bis labor Was lrutless. Thompson
was also ia commui ication with
Vallandingham, who wsa at that
time in Canada. Vallandingham
explained to Thompson the character
of the secret society of the Sons of
Liberty, OF which he was grand com.
mander. He assured Thompson that
the order was in all 100000 strong,
There were $1,000 members hs said,
in Illinois, 5000 10 Indiana, and 49,
0J0 in Onio. Tho order owed its ex,
istenJe, it was claimed, to an appTe-
hersion that the progress Of events
YVES leading to military despotism,
against whlch it was necessary 10 or
gsniEe and avn. "The members of The
aasC ciation," the writer says, "had no
personal sympathy with the Confed-
crates al all. Tney desired that the
war should cease; they did not believe
in the constitutional right OF Coz rciou,
snd thought it unwise and harsh. But
they deprecated, If they did not
condemn, secession. They had no
wish TO see the South success-
ful by armed superiority, and
while they wanted the Federal
q mics to withdraw from Southern
territory, there W re fsw of them who
would have contributed in any way to
a Confed, rate victory, or wished dis
aster to the Union arms in the field.
We very soon discovered that his was
the temper OF these peopls and found
it neces ary to keep that fac. in mind
in all our dealings with them.
There seemed 10 be hops on the
part OF some membe of the order,
however, and it was frequent topic
OF di cnssion, OF ertHb ishing separate
| Conf, deracy OF Northwestern States,
but he great majority, 60 far as the
Confederate Commissioners and their
suboldinates could discover the real
feeling, we're animated, notwilhstand-
ing theiy Jealousy and dislike of the
Federal authority, by strong desire
to see the Union restored as it YVES.
Thompson and his fellow Commits.
eioneTs endeavored in every wav pos
sible 10 foster the idea OF North
western conspiracy to act in conrert
wi b he Western, deuies that Jeffer-
son Davis was a member of the order
or had anything to do with drawing
up It's GODS tuition. Extracts from
the declaration of principles are given
as follows:
"The. Constitution OF the United
States OF America, it was asse rted, was
formed only for the ends and pur-
poses therein d slinctly declared aud
specified, and the government there
by created was endo we'd by the States
acting in their several capacities
of free and independent States with
powers sufficient to tho acoompl sh.
ment of those ends and purposes, and
no Other powers not deleglted to tha'
government, being by the etter of the
compacs expressly reserved to the
STATES or to the people respectively,
Sovereignty resides in and with tue
people OF the States respectively whic1
| NTb uditltb w WIG IOnEb Ah'lOh VI LllN
United States. 1t cannot be alienated
neither can it Be delegated. Some o.
is pow may be exercised by
delega,ed authority, while others can
not be 80 exercised except a. the
sacrifice on the part Of the coSstiu
emit, Of all that lends d gaity to mans
cation to the 6)v7rnnent. The
government designated the Uaited
States of America has no sovereignty
because that is an artribute belonging
to the people in thsi respective State
orga cations, aud with which tney
havs not endowed that government
as a common agent 1t was by tht
terms of the compact constituted BY
the State, through the expreel
will OF the people hereof eev
orally, such common agent t
use and exercise certain specified
and limited powers. 1t was author
lied, 90 far ae regards its status snc
relations as a common sgent in the ex
eicise of the powers carefully auC
,alously delega ed to II, to call itsel
the supreme sovereign. Supremacy al
plainly iLtendsi by the tenor anC
spirit OF Article vi of the Constitu
ton wss created, defiaed and Limited
by the sove eignties themselves 10 &C
cordance with these principles tht
Federal Government eau exercise only
delegated powers, hence, If thos,
who shall have been choseI
to administer that gov, rnment shall
assume to exercise powers which h "
not been delegated, they should be re
garded and deaf WITH as usupeIs. Al
over resides in tie people and i
delegated always to bs ex rcised f.
the advancement OF the common veal
Whenever tho officials to whom
the people have entrusted tn
power OF goad shall refuse t
administer 1t in strict aecor dance witt
it's constitution, bat sh III assume au(
ex, r5se the power and author ty no
delegst' d 1t is the inherent right au
imperative duty Of the people to rests
such officials, and, If need be, exoe
, them by forc4 OF arms. Such resis
. auce is not revolution, but is aolel
a the assert on OF right"
/ Vallaudigham sta ed to Thorn oso
(. that the Sons Of Liberty" include
: in iheir ranks men who had belopgs
/ to both political parties, anu man
(. ex-soldiers whose term If enl stmen
3 had expired; that they were patIslI
armed, and thai, whils the organic
ton was not compact and well i
hand, 1t was yet controlled b
a efficient and determined men, and
q proy0cAtion aud oppor unity com
! bined lis members would defend tn
; principles OF the order at auy co
J He intended TO return at an early d 1t
! to Ohio and txptc ed that he w1nl
! be sgaiu immeoistsly arrested, whicl
: would 10 his opinion lead to a genera
! uprl.ing and retaliation by this Crlt
r for the many acts Of oppression whicl
, ITS members had spffhed. Furthe
invss isation OF the character end zen
timsnt OF the "Sous Of Liber y" con
: firmed peif city a'ltba YAilandluGhau
had said aud rev, sled verish de
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